Greens' tourism plan to protect Tarkine

A TARKINE National Park will be created and protected under legislation if the Greens win enough seats at Saturday's election.

Yesterday, Greens leader Nick McKim and Braddon Greens MP Paul O'Halloran announced the party's tourism policy, which would see the establishment of a Tarkine National Park.

The $12-million 10-year plan will be aimed at improving visitor numbers to more than 250,000 a year and will create an adventure tourism Mecca for the country not just the state.

The Greens claim the plan will support 1100 existing jobs and will bring more than $58 million a year into the state's economy.

"We are putting our money where our mouth is," Mr O'Halloran said.

"We are investing in the Tarkine ... there are some places that are too special to mine and I believe the Tarkine is one of them."

Mr O'Halloran said the Greens would still support mining projects and said there was always a place for mining investment in the state, but said the Tarkine could be an "iconic destination" for the North-West if only its potential were capitalised on.

The Greens' 10-year tourism plan includes:

- introduce legislation to create the Tarkine National Park

- $5 million to establish a new Tarkine Sustainable Development Authority based at Burnie.